Letters written in support of SOUL!, 1969-73

Over the course of its four-year run, SOUL! was threatened with cancellation multiple times. Here’s a sample of letters of support written to the producers of SOUL! from viewers across the racial and economic spectrum. The letters show what SOUL! meant to New Yorkers, from schoolchildren to prisoners–and everyone in between. Images courtesy the executive producer of SOUL!, Christopher Lukas.

The SOUL! program generated thousands of letters of support. Others we haven’t scanned: a petition from Con-Ed workers of NY with hundreds of names, and a letter from Italian Television asking to broadcast the show. (and many others….)

every thursday while i was cooking inside of my mother’s house in goldsboro,north carloina, i was pretending that i was waeching soul and saw jimmy briscoe w/ little beavers singing sugar brown and the voice of syd mccoy saying the show’s title’s narration. it feels like im home back in new york and really missed all the black talent behind the scences. we lost a sister who later made amen so specail,anna marie horsford(thelma frye)was a producer for the show as well and a born again christain i see how it feels that is hard to find a better role for women not since esther rolle for good times abd jeffersons and cicley tyson as miss jane pitman. thank you for the memories. please,show soul again in north cack-a-lack abd abroad. thank you brothers and sisters.

Paul Alexander

Greetings I am very interested in information on how we can get soul released on DVD

Stanley Horton

Based on the previous blogs, this is a no brainer. Will someone PLEASE release this very important show on DVD!!!!!!!!!!! You all will definitely get my money for this very important show in black history.

michael mcgehee

why channel thirteen doesn”st release the soul television series to dvds is very strange to me?this series was very historic,and informative the shows were very good.the very first episode was my favorite with the vibrations singing, and dancing what a great show that was.Its a shame that after all these years this television series continues to be forgottan history.

rob

W/Q THIS N—–E——E——D——-S to be released to the general public on dvd. The TOTALLY incredible lineup of musicians…..just check out the listings….The Manhattans The Delfonics Black Ivory Labelle(Patti Nona and Sarah!) Roland Kirk Lee Morgan McCoy Tyner Quartet Bobby Hebb w/Ron Carter The Persuasions Clarence Carter Candi Staton Mandrill New Birth Nick O’Val EWF Stevie….sho the list goes on and on………Lot of these was LIVE performances too! Since many of these folks never really injoyed the ‘priviledge’ of live released performances from their appropriated record companies (i.e. New Birth The Manhattans The Delfonics Black Ivory Mandrill Candi Staton Labelle etc)….this is a real treat and a half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If we holla enuf……this may eventually get released to those wantinng these treasure troves of timeless episodes!!!!!!!!

AL POLLARD

Greetings,are the shows of SOUL! on You Tube?,I tried to get it,did not see it.